Cregan backs Fitzgerald's claims

Amusement rather than bemusement was the reaction of various hurling managers to the 1999 Eircell All Star selection. The 15 players will be presented with their awards at tonight's ceremony in Dublin, while the All Star football team will be announced at the event.

The most controversial aspect of was the decision to overlook Clare's Davy Fitzgerald in favour of Cork goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack. There was a feeling, despite the steering committee's insistence that he had been considered for the position, that the suspension Fitzgerald is currently serving for his involvement in an under-21 row, mitigated against his selection.

"Well, you know, these All Stars are always controversial and this year has been no exception. I'm sure the wise men involved did their best in their deliberations but to be honest, I've become immune to the vagaries of the minds of reporters," chuckled Limerick manager Eamonn Cregan.

"In relation to the goalkeeping position, well, if the committee genuinely considered Fitzgerald and passed him over, then I believe an error was made. Donal Og ran him close, no doubt about that, but Fitzgerald had an incredible year."

Former Wexford manager Liam Griffin felt it was a very close call. "Davy is the 'keeper of the decade and for spectacular saves, he was the man this year. But for consistency, well, Donal Cusack won an All-Ireland and kept a lot of clean sheets. It's hard to argue against that. For me, the big omission was Ollie Baker, who is the best midfielder in the country."

Galway manager Mattie Murphy and former Down and Antrim manager Sean McGuinness both felt the Cork man was worth his spot. "I suppose it depends on the terms of reference they were using but I would have no problem with that selection, Cusack had an excellent year," Murphy said.

"I honestly felt that Sean Og O'hAlpin was unlucky not to be included and when you see a team without Seanie McMahon and Jamesie O'Connor, you have to wonder. But then it is impossible to accommodate everyone."

McGuinness also commented on the absence of hurlers from both Ulster and Connacht. "Ulster had a dreadful year, no doubt about it, but I think it is a pity that Gary O'Kane from Antrim didn't at least get a nomination. And I think that Galway folks might feel hard done-by that one of their lads didn't squeeze in. Eugene Cloonan, Paul Hardiman; they have some fine hurlers."

"Sure aren't we always supposed to be aggrieved down here," laughed Murphy when that point was put to him.

"Well, I suppose a case might have been made for Cathal Moore but the reality is that if you want to feature on All Star teams you need to be around on the first Sunday in September. After that, you're living off scraps."

Cregan endorsed this view. "Cases are being made for the likes of Ollie Baker but the criteria is that players are judged on the progress they make in the championship," he said before adding, somewhat woefully, that the one exception to that had been 1973 when Limerick won the All-Ireland but only ended up with five All Stars.

The one selection which many found to be mildly surprising was that of Tipperary's Tommy Dunne at midfield, who was chosen despite the brevity of his team's summer.

"Well, Dunne is a fine hurler but it should be pointed up that he ended up with a midfield spot after getting a nomination as a forward," said Cregan.

The general consensus is that the hurler of the year award is between Offaly's Brian Whelahan and Cork's Brian Corcoran. The Cork defender, who will collect his second All Star tonight, iced a brilliant season with a peerless performance in the All-Ireland final and has been widely tipped as the likely candidate. However, both Eamonn Cregan and Liam Griffin were inclined to favour Whelahan.

"Has there been a better hurler in 50 years," wondered Griffin. "His display at half-back against Cork this year was the best I have ever seen in my life. He made a point for Joe Dooley in that game which I'll never forget. Brian Corcoran is a superb act but I couldn't look beyond Whelahan."

Correction: A report in yesterday's edition of The Irish Times stated that Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald had conceded four goals over the course of the championship. He in fact conceded eight.

1999 EIRCELL HURLING ALL-STAR TEAM: D Og Cusack (Cork); F Ryan (Cork), D O'Sullivan (Cork), F Lohan (Clare); B Whelahan (Offaly), B Corcoran (Cork), P Barry (Kilkenny); A Comerford (Kilkenny), T Dunne (Tipperary); DJ Carey (Kilkenny), J Troy (Offaly), B McEvoy (Kilkenny); S McGrath (Cork), J Deane (Cork), N Gilligan (Clare).